Sporting KC to open CONCACAF Champions League group play on Aug. 19

Sporting Kansas City will open group play of the CONCACAF Champions League with a match at Nicaraguan club Real Esteli on Aug. 19. It will be the second straight year Sporting KC plays Real Esteli in the tournament.

Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa is the third member of Group 2 and will travel to Sporting Park on Sept. 18. Real Esteli will make the trip to Kansas City on Sept 23. Sporting KC will close out group play on Oct. 23 at Deportivo Saprissa.

The winner of the three-team group will advance to the CCL quarterfinals in 2015.